View full sizeDoug Beghtel/The OregonianActor Daniel Baldwin, with daughters Finley (left) and Avis, moved to Lake Oswego in late 2009 and started a local production company. In an application filed this week for a restraining order against his wife, Baldwin said "I am truly fearful for my life."

Baldwin, 50, said he decided to make the TV appearance, two days after he filed for divorce, to "set the record straight" about his wife's actions and his concerns for the safety of himself and his children.

"I know that under normal circumstances Joanne would never do anything to hurt her kids," he said. "But what needs to be addressed here is the immediate need to shed light on this problem that she has."

jailed on an alleged probation violation. The British-born former model was on probation for a drunken driving conviction that prohibited her from drinking alcohol. She surrendered to police after accusations that she went on a drunken rampage Sunday at the Baldwins' home, "tearing up the house and everything in her path."

Baldwin's petition for a restraining order, which was granted on Tuesday, alleged multiple threats from his wife, saying she brandished a knife and threatened him in front of their 3-year-old and 22-month old daughters.

Baldwin met his third wife in 2006 while in a drug rehab center, where she worked as a chef. He married the British-born former model in 2007 and moved to Lake Oswego with his family in 2009.

Baldwin said in court documents that Joanne has repeatedly violated the no-alcohol requirement imposed by the court after her two drunken-driving convictions. He added that he would not be surprised if she is sentenced to serve "several weeks" in jail.

The actor said at one point during the alleged incident on Sunday, one of his children overheard a comment made by his wife and asked "Is mommy going to hurt us? Is mommy going to kill us?"

"What's the next step when you're somebody who does remember that you rear-ended someone in a car accident while you got a DUI because you went into a blackout?" he said. "What are you capable of when you go into blackouts at home? I don't want to find out."

Baldwin discussed his family’s history with substance abuse and said they intend to be there and help his wife overcome her struggles.

"Everyone wants to rally around this turnaround now, let's go ahead and decide that we're going to do this," he said. "Anything short of doing that, I don't want to participate in."